A self-inflating tire assembly includes an air tube connected to a tire and defining an air passageway, the air tube being composed of a flexible material operative to allow an air tube segment opposite a tire footprint to flatten, closing the passageway, and resiliently unflatten into an original configuration. The air tube is sequentially flattened by the tire footprint in a direction opposite to a tire direction of rotation to pump air along the passageway to a regulator device. The regulator device regulates the inlet air flow to the air tube and the outlet air flow to the tire cavity.
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1. A self-inflating tire assembly comprising:
a tire mounted to a rim, the tire having a tire cavity, first and second sidewalls extending respectively from first and second tire bead regions to a tire tread region;
an air passageway having an first end and a second end, the air passageway being composed of a flexible material operative to open and close when the tire rotates, wherein the first end and second end is in fluid communication with the tire cavity;
a regulator device having a regulator body having an interior chamber; a pressure membrane being mounted on the regulator device to enclose the interior chamber, wherein the pressure membrane has a lower surface that is positioned to open and close an outlet port mounted in the interior chamber, wherein the pressure membrane is in fluid communication with the tire cavity pressure;
wherein the body of the regulator device has a first, second and third flexible duct, wherein said first, second and third flexible ducts each have an internal passageway; wherein the third flexible duct has a first end in fluid communication with the outside air, and a second end in fluid communication with the interior chamber of the regulator device; and
wherein the first flexible duct has a first end in fluid communication with the first end of the air passageway, and a second end in fluid communication with the interior chamber of the regulator device; wherein the second flexible duct has a first end in fluid communication with the second end of the air passageway, and a second end in fluid communication with the interior chamber of the regulator device.
2. The self-inflating tire assembly of
3. The self-inflating tire assembly of
4. The self-inflating tire assembly of
5. The self-inflating tire assembly of
6. The self-inflating tire assembly of
7. The self-inflating tire assembly of
8. The self-inflating tire assembly of
9. The self-inflating tire assembly of
10. The self-inflating tire assembly of
11. The self-inflating tire assembly of
12. The self-inflating tire assembly of
13. The self-inflating tire assembly of
15. The self-inflating tire assembly of
16. The self-inflating tire assembly of
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The invention relates generally to self-inflating tires and, more specifically, to a pump mechanism and pressure regulator for such tires.
Normal air diffusion reduces tire pressure over time. The natural state of tires is under inflated. Accordingly, drivers must repeatedly act to maintain tire pressures or they will see reduced fuel economy, tire life and reduced vehicle braking and handling performance. Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems have been proposed to warn drivers when tire pressure is significantly low. Such systems, however, remain dependent upon the driver taking remedial action when warned to re-inflate a tire to recommended pressure. It is desirable, therefore, to incorporate a self-inflating feature within a tire that will self-inflate the tire in order to compensate for any reduction in tire pressure over time without the need for driver intervention.
The invention provides in a first aspect a self-inflating tire assembly which includes a tire mounted to a rim, the tire having a tire cavity, first and second sidewalls extending respectively from first and second tire bead regions to a tire tread region; an air passageway having an first end and a second end, the air passageway being composed of a flexible material operative to open and close when the tire rotates, wherein the first end and second end is in fluid communication with the tire cavity; a regulator device having a regulator body having an interior chamber; a pressure membrane being mounted on the regulator device to enclose the interior chamber, wherein the pressure membrane has a lower surface that is positioned to open and close the outlet port mounted in the interior chamber, wherein the pressure membrane is in fluid communication with the tire cavity pressure; wherein the body of the regulator device has a first, second and third flexible duct, wherein said first, second and third flexible ducts each have an internal passageway; wherein the third flexible duct has a first end in fluid communication with the outside air, and a second end in fluid communication with the interior chamber of the regulator device, wherein the first flexible duct has a first end in fluid communication with the first end of the air passageway, and a second end in fluid communication with the interior chamber of the regulator device; wherein the second flexible duct has a first end in fluid communication with the second end of the air passageway, and a second end in fluid communication with the interior chamber of the regulator device.
“Aspect ratio” of the tire means the ratio of its section height (SH) to its section width (SW) multiplied by 100 percent for expression as a percentage.
“Asymmetric tread” means a tread that has a tread pattern not symmetrical about the center plane or equatorial plane EP of the tire.
“Axial” and “axially” means lines or directions that are parallel to the axis of rotation of the tire.
“Chafer” is a narrow strip of material placed around the outside of a tire bead to protect the cord plies from wearing and cutting against the rim and distribute the flexing above the rim.
“Circumferential” means lines or directions extending along the perimeter of a surface, perpendicular to the axial direction.
“Equatorial Centerplane (CP)” means the plane perpendicular to the tire's axis of rotation and passing through the center of the tread.
“Footprint” means the contact patch or area of contact of the tire tread with a flat surface at zero speed and under normal load and pressure.
“Inboard side” means the side of the tire nearest the vehicle when the tire is mounted on a wheel and the wheel is mounted on the vehicle.
“Lateral” means an axial direction.
“Lateral edges” means a line tangent to the axially outermost tread contact patch or footprint as measured under normal load and tire inflation, the lines being parallel to the equatorial centerplane.
“Net contact area” means the total area of ground contacting tread elements between the lateral edges around the entire circumference of the tread divided by the gross area of the entire tread between the lateral edges.
“Non-directional tread” means a tread that has no preferred direction of forward travel and is not required to be positioned on a vehicle in a specific wheel position or positions to ensure that the tread pattern is aligned with the preferred direction of travel. Conversely, a directional tread pattern has a preferred direction of travel requiring specific wheel positioning.
“Outboard side” means the side of the tire farthest away from the vehicle when the tire is mounted on a wheel and the wheel is mounted on the vehicle.
“Peristaltic” means operating by means of wave-like contractions that propel contained matter, such as air, along tubular pathways.
“Radial” and “radially” means directions radially toward or away from the axis of rotation of the tire.
“Rib” means a circumferentially extending strip of rubber on the tread which is defined by at least one circumferential groove and either a second such groove or a lateral edge, the strip being laterally undivided by full-depth grooves.
“Sipe” means small slots molded into the tread elements of the tire that subdivide the tread surface and improve traction, sipes are generally narrow in width and close in the tires footprint as opposed to grooves that remain open in the tire's footprint.
“Tread element” or “traction element” means a rib or a block element defined by having shape adjacent grooves.
“Tread Arc Width” means the arc length of the tread as measured between the lateral edges of the tread.
The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring to
Pump Assembly 14
The pump assembly 14 includes an air passageway 43 which may be molded into the sidewall of the tire during vulcanization or formed post cure. The air passageway may be molded into shape by the insertion of a removable strip that forms the passageway when removed. The passageway 43 acts as a pump. The air passageway 43 is preferably molded into the tire sidewall as shown in
As shown in
Regulator Device
The regulator device 300 is shown in
The pressure membrane has an upper surface 551 that is substantially planar. The pressure membrane has a lower surface 553 wherein a plug 555 extends from the lower surface. The pressure membrane further has an annular sidewall 556 which extends downwardly from the upper surface, forming a lip 557. The lip 557 is preferably annular, and snaps in an annular slot 559 formed on the outer regulator housing 310. The pressure membrane is a disk shaped member made of a flexible material such as, but not limited to, rubber, elastomer, plastic or silicone. The lower surface 553 of the pressure membrane is in fluid communication with the interior chamber 320. The plug 555 is positioned to close the outlet port 330. A spring 580 is positioned in the interior chamber 320 to bias the pressure membrane 550 in the open position. The spring has a first end 582 that is received about the plug 555. The spring has a second end 584 that is wrapped around the outer surface of the outlet port 330. A first washer 586 may be received between the spring first end 582 and the pressure membrane 550. A second washer 588 may be received between the spring second end 584 and the bottom of the chamber 313. Thus the balance of pressure forces on each side of the pressure membrane actuates the pressure membrane plug 555 to open and close the outlet port 330.
Extending from the central regulator housing 310 is a first, second and third flexible duct 350, 360, 370 positioned on either side of the central regulator housing 310. Each flexible duct 350, 360, 370 may be integrally formed with the regulator housing as shown, or be a discrete part connected to the central regulator housing 310. Each flexible duct 350, 360, 370 has an internal passageway 352, 362, 372 for communicating fluid.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Inlet Filter Assembly
The inlet filter assembly 400 is shown in
Inlet/Outlet Valve
The first end 42 of the pump passageway 43 is connected to a first valve 100. The second end 44 of the pump passageway 43 is connected to a second valve 100. The first and second valves 100 are shown as structurally the same, although one or both of the valves could be as valve 200 shown in
The lower valve 114 has a first end of the central passage 115 having an enlarged opening 118 that is in fluid communication with the pump passageway 4-3 first end 42. A cylindrical support member 120 is received in the enlarged opening 118 of the central passage 115. The cylindrical support member 120 has a bore 122 that extends therethrough. A flexible collar 124 is received about the cylindrical support member 120. The outer end of the flexible collar 124 is positioned to open and close holes 126 to communicate flow from the first flexible duct passageway 352 to the passage 115 and then to the pump passageway 42, or from the pump passageway 42, through the valve body passage 115 to the flexible duct passageway. Thus the valve 100 works when the flow is traveling in either direction.
The central passage 115 has a second end 117 that terminates in the upper valve 111 into a transverse passage 119. The transverse passage 119 is perpendicular to the central passage 115, forming a T shaped passage. A second flexible sleeve 130 is mounted to the valve body 110 and is positioned to open and close the outlet holes 128 of the transverse passage 119.
A second embodiment 700 of a double valve is shown in
The valve body 710 has a first end 712 having an outer threaded surface 713 that is mounted within the sidewall of the tire. The lower valve 714 is inserted into a transverse passage 716 that intersects passage 715. The lower valve 714 is a check valve, preferably a duckbill check valve as shown. The duckbill check valve has elastomeric lips 717 in the shape of a duckbill which prevents backflow and allows forward flow from the inlet 719 to the passage 715. The flow exits the duckbill elastomeric lips into the passage 715. The lower valve 714 could also be other types of check valves known to those skilled in the art, such as ball valves, etc.
The upper valve 711 is a sleeve type check valve, having an outer annular flexible sleeve 732 that opens and closes over outlet holes 734 of outlet passageway 730. Outlet passageway 730 is in fluid communication with passage 715.
System Operation
The regulator device 300 controls the inflow of outside air into the pump. If the tire pressure is above the preset threshold value, the plug 555 of the pressure membrane seals the central outlet port 330 and no air enters the pump passageway, as shown in
If the tire rotates in a counterclockwise direction, the operation of the system is shown in
The location of the pump assembly in the tire will be understood from
The length as represented by the angle Ψ of each pump passageway is illustrated at about 350-360 degrees, the invention is not limited to same, and may be shorter or longer as desired.
The pump assembly 14 may also be used with a secondary tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) (not shown) of conventional configuration that serves as a system fault detector. The TPMS may be used to detect any fault in the self-inflation system of the tire assembly and alert the user of such a condition.
Variations in the present invention are possible in light of the description of it provided herein. While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the subject invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the subject invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that changes can be made in the particular embodiments described which will be within the full intended scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
9308784, | Dec 09 2013 | The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company | Pneumatic tire comprising an air pressure regulator and pressure regulator kit |
20150165840, | |||
EP2565061, | |||
EP2746073, | |||
EP2881269, |
Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Oct 07 2014 | HINQUE, DANIEL PAUL LUC MARIE | GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, THE | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 034205 | /0854 | |
Nov 12 2014 | The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / |
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